Breed Introduction: Devon Rex Cat

Breed Introduction: Devon Rex

The Devon Rex is a breed of intelligent, short-haired cat that emerged in England during the 1970s. They are known for their slender bodies, wavy coat, and large ears. The Devon Rex loves people and attention of friends and family.

This is a smart cat with a moderate activity level. He does not move often, but he does like to learn tricks and play fetch. Puzzle toys and interactive toys are a delight to his inventive brain and will help to keep him occupied while you are out earning money to buy more of them. You can definitely choose a Devon if you will enjoy the company of a mischievous and agile cat! Also, make sure you won’t be alarmed to see him peering down at you from the top of a door, plotting the trajectory to your shoulder.

Breed Origin

It was first thought that Kirlee, a kitten born in Devon, England, in 1959, shared the same genetic makeup as the Cornish Rex, a breed born a decade earlier in nearby Cornwall, but test breeding soon established that Kirlee was unique, another result of a natural genetic mutation. As suggested by his name, Kirlee had a wavy coat. Little is known of his ancestry. His mother was a stray, and his father was thought to be a roaming tom that also had a curly coat. The Cat Fanciers Association gave the breed full recognition in 1979.

CHARACTERISTICS

The Devon Rex weigh 5 to 10 pounds.

The Devon’s wavy coat is easy to maintain. Groom gently so you don’t break the delicate hair. In many cases, brushing your hand over the coat is all it needs. The best thing about a Devon Rex coat is that it doesn’t shed much, and the fur is so fine that it isn’t very noticeable on clothing and furniture.

Baths are rarely necessary unless the cat is white or has a lot of white on the coat. Those cats can start to look dingy if they are not regularly bathed. The coat dries quickly after a bath.

The Devon is often described as having an elfin appearance, with his large ears, high cheekbones and striking eyes. His outstanding characteristic, however, is his soft, wavy fur. His curvy body starts with his head, a modified wedge shape with convex curves forming the outer edge of the ear lobes, the cheekbones and the whisker pads. The Devon has large, wide-set, oval-shaped eyes and strikingly large ears set low on the head. Sometimes the tips of the ears are tufted with fine fur.

The active and social Devon Rex is a perfect choice for families with children and cat-friendly dogs. It will play fetch as well as any retriever, learns tricks easily and loves the attention he receives from children who treat him politely and with respect. Introduce pets slowly and in controlled circumstances to ensure that they learn to get along together.